Department of Public Works

At a Glance

JAMES T. FLEMING, Commissioner

Jonathan Holmes, Deputy Commissioner

David O’Hearn, Deputy Commissioner

Established - 1987

Statutory authority – CGS Chapters 59 and 60, 4b-1 et seq.

Central office - 165 Capitol Avenue,

Hartford, CT 06106

Number of permanent full-time employees – 182

Recurring operating expenses – $55 million

Organizational structure - Office of the Commissioner; Facilities Management; and Design and Construction.

Mission

To be the leader in providing quality facilities and in delivering cost-effective, responsive, timely services to state agencies in the areas of planning, design, construction, facilities management, leasing, property disposition and security. With our diverse, competent workforce, to partner with our customers and industry providers, to make the best use of the state’s resources.

Statutory Responsibility

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for the design and construction of nearly all major state facility capital projects, leasing and property acquisitions for most state agencies, facility management, maintenance and security of state buildings in the greater Hartford area as well as certain properties outside of the Hartford area, and the administrative functions of establishing and maintaining security standards for certain state facilities and surplus property statewide.

The department also assists agencies and departments with long-term facilities planning and the preparation of cost estimates for such plans.

DPW provides facility-related services to the majority of Connecticut’s state agencies and commissions. Many DPW services, such as security, parking and snow and ice removal, also benefit members of the public who visit the facilities. It is the policy of DPW to work in close cooperation with its client agencies to ensure that the finished product reflects the needs of the agency and facilitates the delivery of their services for their clients.

Improvements/Achievements 2005-06

Construction Services

During fiscal year 2005-06, DPW completed several significant construction projects including:

¨ A new Science Center at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury at a cost of approximately $33.5 million.

¨ A new addition and renovations at Southern Connecticut State University’s Engleman Hall classroom building in New Haven at a cost of approximately $33 million.

¨ A new Student Center at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven at a cost of approximately $23 million.

¨ A new Child and Family Resource Development Center at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic at a cost of approximately $10 million.

¨ A new Appellate Court at the restored and renovated 75 Elm Street in Hartford at a cost of approximately $6.1 million.

¨ A newly restored pavilion at Putnam Memorial State Park in Redding at a cost of approximately $2 million.

¨ A newly restored and improved Kent Falls State Park Scenic Trail and Overlook in Kent at a cost of approximately $1 million.

Two major projects that were developed and administered through design and construction by DPW have earned LEED certification (“Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”) from the U.S. Green Building Council. DPW earned this distinction for its work involving two completed dormitory projects: Centennial Hall at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, a residence hall and parking garage; and the West Campus Residence Complex and parking garage at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. The LEED designation verifies an environmentally friendly design and sustainable building construction. A sustainably-designed building is more energy efficient, has better indoor air quality and occupant comfort, less environmental risk, uses materials that are less detrimental to the natural environment, and uses the building site's natural resources wisely in order for the environment to continue to sustain itself.

DPW was recognized by the Hartford Preservation Alliance on May 10, 2006 for its exceptional contributions to architectural preservation in Hartford during the year, specifically, for the completely restored new home of the Appellate Court at 75 Elm Street, a facility originally constructed in 1913.

In January 2006, DPW announced that the site selected for the new Litchfield County Courthouse is the Timken property, the former Torrington Company facilities at 59 Field Street in Torrington. Following the purchase of the site, DPW will begin the design and construction planning process. The courthouse project is estimated at $40 million. An existing 43,000 square foot building on the site will be renovated and incorporated into the project; and a new four-story 117,000 square foot court facility will be built adjacent to it.

Legal Services

DPW continues to focus efforts on the review of the construction and consultant selection processes, with emphasis on incorporating best practices, achieving transparency and ensuring integrity in each selection process.

A major legislative enactment during the fiscal year, Public Act 06-134, enabled DPW to enter into Construction Manager at Risk Contracts. In a construction manager at risk project, during a project’s design phase, DPW hires a firm with construction management experience through a quality-based selection process to manage the entire construction process including the awarding of prime contractors through a competitive sealed bid process. This delivery method is designed to produce a more manageable and predictable project that saves time and money.

Facilities Management

In the Facilities Management division, numerous environmental surveys were performed to identify and correct deficiencies. The Request for Proposals (RFP) process to select a vendor for a computer-aided facilities management system in conjunction with the Department of Information Technology has been completed.  Financial controls involving the standardization of billing submittals from property management firms have been implemented. In addition, the reassignment and database compilation of all major Hartford DPW parking lots was completed during the fiscal year. In February 2006 DPW received a snow emergency reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

During fiscal year 2005 – 2006, the leasing and property transfer unit’s portfolio consisted of approximately 2.8 million square feet of office space for 80 state agencies. There are 240 leases and another 60 lease-outs for a total of 300 lease agreements. During the fiscal year, three leasing agents handled more than 100 different projects including the signing of key agreements involving expanded office space for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) in Waterbury to allow for more client-base programs. A new lease also was negotiated for DMHAS in Bridgeport to provide space for a homeless outreach program.

The property transfer unit handled many significant projects during the year, including the contract between the state and the Town of Preston for the transfer of the former Norwich State Hospital in Norwich/Preston. The bulk of the property, consisting of 409 acres with buildings and other improvements, is being transferred to the Town of Preston for development.

In addition to completing leases and property transfers, the unit also completed its draft of the department’s leasing regulations. In conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General, the State Properties Review Board and the Office of Policy and Management, the unit revised the state standard lease making it more agreeable to lessors while still protecting the state’s interests. The leasing unit also initiated a series of informational sessions for the agencies it serves, explaining the leasing process from start to finish. The unit’s goal is to facilitate future leasing needs by ensuring that agencies know the proper procedures.

During the year, DPW re-designed its website to help achieve the department’s vision: to create a work environment for state agencies that supports and enhances accomplishment of their missions. The updated website emerged from discussions related to DPW meeting the needs of client state agencies and its partners in the consultant and contractor community. The site now includes a new home page with expanded content and easier navigation. DPW services are delineated and important forms and publications are included for each service area, as well as contact information. Work opportunities for consultants, contractors, property managers and lessors are presented more clearly with electronic access to legal notices, RFP’s and Requests for Qualifications (RFQ’s). Selection and bidding results are now being published as well. New manuals and instructions have been technologically enhanced, and directories have been reformatted and updated. The publications and forms sections now serve as a single repository of important documents that are clearly identified and easily accessible.

DPW’s security unit continued to improve the overall level of security for state employees, clients, visitors, and assets of the State of Connecticut in both state-owned and leased facilities. In addition, throughout the year DPW staff members participated in national preparedness exercises sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and in training drills conducted by the state Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

Information Reported as Required by Statute

The Department of Public Works’ 2005 Affirmative Action Plan was approved by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities at its May 2006 Commission meeting. At the time the plan was approved, the agency’s workforce consisted of 174 full-time employees. Of those represented, 57.5 percent were white males; 23.0 percent were white females and 19.5 percent were minorities.

The Department is committed to the principles and practices of affirmative action and strives to increase the representation of women and minorities through providing opportunities for upward mobility, and promoting small and minority-owned businesses through a strong contract compliance program.